When Wang met Wong in Canberra
China is focusing increasing amounts of diplomatic capital on Australia.
Top diplomat Wang Yi landed in Australia on Wednesday.
- He is the most senior Chinese official to visit the country since 2017, when he last visited.
First up: A meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
- Wang was due to meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese later in the day.
ICYDK: China pulled Australia from its diplomatic deep freeze in November 2022, when Xi Jinping met Albanese on the sidelines of the G20 in Bali.
- Since then, China has made several goodwill gestures, including dropping trade barriers on various Australian imports.
Wang told Wong that bilateral ties are back “on the right track” and said (MoFA):
- “[We must] uphold mutual respect…seek common ground while shelving differences…pursue mutual benefit and win-win…[and] maintain independence.”
Wong called for a "mature and productive relationship" and said Australia will seek to manage its differences with China wisely (Australian Foreign Minister's Office).
Wong revealed that Premier Li Qiang will visit Australia at some stage this year.
Get smart: With the EU looking to impose restrictions on trade and investment with China, and the US and UK elections fanning domestic anti-China sentiment, Beijing has few friends amongst its Western trading partners.
- Australia, much like New Zealand, presents an important test case for whether or not China can put economic cooperation back at the center of relations with Western democracies.